Fastener for meter-boxes.



J. H. HOLMGREEN. v FASTENER FOR METER BOXES; APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1914. RENEWED DEC. 26. 4911-.

1,256,563. Patented Feb.19,'1918..

FASTENER FOR METER-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Application filed February 25, 1914, Serial No. 820,905. Renewed December 26, 1917. Serial No. 208,978.

To all whom it may concern: 0

Be it known that I, JULIUS H. HOLM- ennnN, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of San Antonio. in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Meter-Boxes, of which the following is a description.

The invention relates to meter-boxes that. are employed to guard meters connected with service pipes in exposed places, and it has for its object the provision of means for locking the cover upon the box to prevent the opening of the same by unauthorized persons.

The invention consists in the novel constrrction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claim. and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings. in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a meter-box, embodying the invention, also showing the key for operating the locking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vert cal sectional view of one side of the meter-box, showing the locking mechanism mounted on the under side of the cover.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under side of the cover. with the locking mechanism partly in section.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing one of the engaging stops on the inner face of the cylindrical casing of the box.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the operating members of the locking mechanism.

The cylindrical casing 1 of the meter-box is of the usual construction. and it is planted in the ground to inclose the meter. In the lower edge otthe casing, on opposite sides of the same, is the hook-shaped recess 2 to admit the service pipe. The casing is turned so that the service pipe enters the inner end of the hook-shaped recesses, which will hold the casing in its proper position in the ground. On the inner face of easing, adjacent to its upper edge, are the three stops 3 (only one of which is shown), each being provided with a horizontally projecting spur 4.

Fitting over the cylindrical casing l is the cover 5 provided with the opposite handles 6 so that it can be easily manipulated. On the under side of the cover are the three catches 7 spaced equal distances apart and so located as to clear the inner face of the casing when the cover is in place. These three catches 7 are adapted to strike against the stops 3 and engage beneath the spurs & when the cover is turned in its place on the casing. In positioning the cover on the casing, it is first placed on the same with the catches 7 clear of the stops 3, then the cover is turned, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, until the catches pass beneath the spurs 4 and strike against the stops 3. With the catches 7 in engagement with the spurs 4 the cover cannot be lifted from the casing.

Locking mechanism is provided for securing the cover against turning after the engagement of the catches 7 with the spurs 4. In the cover, adjacent to one of the catches 7, is the boss 8 having a socket 9 provided with a vertical bearing in its bottom. In this hearing is journaled the bolt 10 provided with an angular head resting in the socket 9. The lower end of the bolt is squared and projects below the cover. On the lower squared end of the bolt 10 is the plate 11 having the eccentric bearing 12 on which is journaled the inner end of the latch 13. On the plate 11 is the flange 14 projecting over the latch to hold the latter on the eccentric bearing. A cotter pin 15 passing through the end oi the bolt 10 holds the plate 11 in place. The outer end of the latch extends toward the edge 01' the cover between the lugs 16 projecting from the boss 8. By turning the plate 11,through the. eccentric bearing 12, the latch is moved to and from the edge of the cover. The edge of the flange 14 is cut away to form the stops 17, 18 to engage the pin 19 projecting from the under side of the latch. The stops are diametrically opposite on the plate 11 and stop 17 in engagement with the pin 19 limits the rotation of the plate 11 to the extreme inward movement of the latch, and the stop 18 in engagement with the pin 19 limits the rotation of the plate to the extreme outward movement of the latch.

A key '20 is provided to enter the socket 9 and to fit the angular head of the bolt 10 therein. By means of the key the bolt can be rotated to turn the eccentric plate 11 to move the latch 13 in or out.

In securing the cover, the latch 13 having been moved inward as indicated by full lines in Fig. 3, the cover is placed on the casing and turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in said figure until the catch '7 (and also the other catches) passes beneath the spur 4: against the stop 3. Then, by means of the key the bolt 10 is rotated to turn the plate 11 until the stop 18 strikes the pin 19. This, through the eccentric bearing between the plate and latch, will move the latch outward back of the stop 3 as shown by dotted lines in the figure. With the latch in this position the stop 3 will be held between the latch and the adjacent catch so that the cover cannot be turned in either direction and, consequently, it will be locked in place. T 0 remove the cover, by means of the key the latch is retracted from behind the adjacent stop 3' so that the cover can be turned to free the catch 7 from the stops. i/Vhen this is done the cover can be lifted from the casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

In a meter-box, a cylindrical casing, a cover turnable on the casing, a stop on the Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for inner face of the casing, a catch on the under side of the cover to engage said stop when the cover is turned in one direction, said stop by its engagement with the catch limiting the turning of the cover when so moved, a bolt journaled in said cover, a plate with an eccentric bearing fast on the bolt inside of the cover, diametrically opposite stops on said plate, a latch journaled on the eccentric bearing inside of the cover, means for rotating the bolt from the outside of the cover to turn said plate to project the latch outward to engage the stop on the lnner face of the casing'to hold the cover agalnst turning in the opposite direction to free the catch from said stop, and a pin 7 on said latch to engage the diametrically opposite stops to limit the turning of said plate to the advanced and retracted positions of the latch.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS H. HOLMGBEEN.

Witnesses: V

FENN B. NEWELL, J OHN W. LAWSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

